Cat Deeley discussed the ‘terrifying’ reason behind her decision to move back to the UK from Los Angeles with her husband, Patrick Kielty, and their sons, Milo, four, and James, two.
The television presenter, 44, revealed her fear of gun violence, as she touched upon the terrifying moment her husband, 49, and their eldest son narrowly avoided a public shooting incident.
Cat and Patrick lived happily in Los Angeles for over 14 years, but she described the event at the Century City Mall which was the ‘catalyst’ for their departure earlier this year.
Scary: Cat Deeley discussed the reason behind her decision to move back to the UK from Los Angeles with her partner, Patrick Kielty, and their sons, Milo, four, and James, two, on Friday
She spoke to Lorraine Kelly on Friday from her north London home, explaining: ‘The catalyst for it was definitely a moment when Paddy called me and him and Milo were stuck in a shopping mall there.
‘I had to go and pick them up and I didn’t know quite where they were. There were helicopters and police vans and news crews, it was terrifying for me. Everybody was safe and fine, but it was terrifying for me.’
In a previous interview with YOU Mag, the former SM:TV host discussed her anxiety surrounding a possible school shooting when her kids start in the future.
Her fears became a reality when her family had to escape the mall shooting, as she elaborated further on the incident.
Gun crime: The television presenter, 44, discussed her fear of gun violence, as she touched on the moment her husband, 49, and their eldest son (pictured) avoided a public shooting
She said in September: ‘That danger became even more real last summer when Milo and his father went to the Century City Mall in LA after morning nursery.
‘The FBI turned up with guns and ordered everyone to take cover under counters or hide because a shooter was on the loose.’
Patrick and Milo were forced to take cover in a Shake Shack kitchen when they first discovered a gunman had entered the building.
Cat said her husband was trying to keep their son calm so he didn’t understand the danger and enormity of the situation.
Scary: Cat and Patrick (pictured in November 2019) lived in Los Angeles for over 14 years, but she described the event at the Century City Mall which was the ‘catalyst’ for their departure
Shocked: She said to Lorraine: ‘I had to go and pick them up and I didn’t know quite where they were. There were helicopters and police vans and news crews, it was terrifying for me’
She added: ‘They shut down the centre. I got a call from Paddy, saying, “They’re taking us out through the fire exits but nobody can get to their car. If we walk to a junction, can you come and get us?”
‘It was terrifying. Paddy was shaken by it, more than Milo, who was hot and cranky but didn’t properly understand.’
Luckily, they managed to escape the scary event unharmed, and Cat is focused on spending quality time with them and her extended family, which also prompted her decision to move back to London.
She also said to Lorraine: ‘We had always thought, our boys have got grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins that they adore and they adore them right back.
Safe: Luckily, her family managed to escape the scary incident unharmed, and Cat wants spend quality moments with her loved ones, which also prompted her decision to move back
‘It’s such a special moment in time and you don’t get those times back. We had always thought we would bring them back here so that they would know everyone in the family and friends.’
Cat and Patrick put their Beverly Hills mansion on the market for $4.9 million (£3.8 million), in August.
The sprawling mansion was a four bedroom contemporary home that spans 3,804 square feet, and the ridge-top property boasts modern furnishings, a pool area with stunning cross-canyon views, as well as its own spa.
The TV presenter, 43, first bought the property back in 2006 for $2.7 million (£2.05 million), according to Variety, and had since done extensive renovations to update the late 1970s home.
Family: She said on moving back: ‘We had always thought we would bring them back here so that they would know everyone in the family and friends’ (pictured with her father in June)
On the market: Cat and Patrick put their Beverly Hills mansion on the market for $4.995 million (£3.8 million), in August